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The following message, from Wood's Homes Chair David Olson and our CEO Jane Matheson, appeared in the Society's 2008-09 Annual Report
Some years there are times of both holding one’s breath and then counting our blessings. 2008-2009 was one of those.
In April 2008, we were close to re-opening Evergreen — a residential program at Bowness that suffered from staff shortages so profound that we had to shut its doors just before Christmas of 2007. Thanks to Children’s Services, we were able to use the time to refresh the program’s clinical model and hold our breath to see if we could improve the CAFAS scores — the results of which one can read about in this annual report. That process also showed how the Wood’s Homes programs and staff band together to help in times of trouble — as many programs stepped in to help care for the Evergreen children for those five
months. We were counting our blessing there.
In June, we held our breath again while we underwent 4 days of review under Accreditation Canada. Getting ready and then undertaking such an agency-wide evaluation is hard work but illuminating and thought-provoking, too. Accreditation focuses particularly on good governance, risk management, quality services and outcome measures. In the end, and in all of these areas, we were extremely proud of the major success we had and the accolades we received from all of the surveyors. We were also beset by problems with rain and various building setbacks in the spring as we tried to get our second building of the
Capital Campaign underway. We held our breath a lot then but now, some 12 months later, the building is a beautiful reality that will be livable in early July. We are very thankful for this building, too, as we have been in our current
administration structure since 1981 when the staff complement was much less than half of our numbers today (300+). The plans for renewing the present administration building are almost finalized also. This will be a child
and family-focused service that houses multiple types of clinical services. Both of these structures make up the Tuer Children’s Mental Health Centre and will be complete by (we hope) January 2010.
In July, we celebrated the start of a new residential/foster care program in Fort Smith, N.W.T. In the fall, we finalized another shelter service in Fort McMurray — working to develop this with a community advisory group and a second
partnership with VRRI — the Helios Program — for young people transitioning to the adult mental health system. These were busy times!
Like all of our other non-profit colleagues, we were struggling most of last year to find qualified, enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff who wanted to work with our wonderful kids and join a great organization. We held our breath a lot — hoping
that we did not have to close another program; trying not to tax our staff too much with overwork. And then the world did a turnaround — the economy tumbled and it only took a few months until we discovered more eager and skilled applicants who wanted to come and work at Wood’s Homes. Some clouds do have silver linings!
In March (2009), we were very excited to be chosen as the first agency in the province to lead a transformational partnership process with Calgary Children’s Services. We were chosen to be a Lead Agency — working with the Forest Lawn Multi-Service Team (MST) to be part of changing how helping services are delivered by the Ministry of Children’s Services. We are very honoured by this and have been busy crossing all the t’s and dotting i’s for the past few months — planning a startup with them in July. There are many unknowns on the other side of this project, and yet the excitement of possibility and newness is high. We are looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds and being part of something innovative.
The year ahead looks as busy and full as the one that just passed. Once again, we note that all of our successes and accomplishments could not have been done without the help and support of staff, board members and volunteers, funders and donors, friends and neighbours. Thank you all so very much.
And to the young people and families who entrust us with their troubles and their hopes for change - thank you for teaching us every day about the power of vulnerability and the many faces of courage.
- Dave Olson & Dr. Jane Matheson